CG Restaurants & Bars is to expand its Dirty Martini concept outside of London for the first time after taking on a site in Cardiff city centre.
It plans to open a Dirty Martini in the former premises of bar, club and restaurant Maddison of Cardiff in St Mary Street in September.
The group will be investing around £1m in the refurbishment of the 10,000 sq ft venue, hiring 65 new staff. It is pictured above as a computer-generated image.
Dirty Martini currently operates seven sites in London in Bishopsgate, Clapham, Covent Garden, Hanover Square, Islington, Monument and St Paul’s.
Chief executive Scott Matthews, who is from Wales, said “This is a big step for us, and Cardiff’s strong economic growth and outstanding nightlife offers the brand a fantastic opportunity to establish Dirty Martini amongst a city of discerning cocktail lovers.
“I have an affinity with Cardiff having started my career at local institution The Philharmonic in 1995. It’s one of the best nights out in the country and we look forward to bringing Dirty Martini to the Welsh capital.”
After acquiring Dirty Martini in Covent Garden in 2007, CG Restaurants & Bars has taken the brand to a seven strong group with budgeted sales of £12.5m in 2016.
Dirty Martini has developed a reputation for its cocktails and stylish interiors, with a happy hour that was voted the best in Mayfair and the City in London’s DesignMyNight awards – it sold over half a million Martinis during its happy hours in 2015.
